Universal Music Group and TikTok announced a new multi-year strategic licensing agreement designed to strengthen the relationship between the two companies while expanding opportunities for artists, songwriters, creators, and fans globally.
Under the agreement, TikTok will continue providing access to Universal Music Group’s recorded music and publishing catalogs across its platform. The companies said the renewed partnership will deepen engagement between creators and UMG artists through enhanced promotional tools, expanded marketing and advertising campaigns, ecommerce integrations, and artist-focused monetization features.
The agreement builds on the companies’ partnership established in 2024 and includes additional collaboration around fan engagement experiences and artist development initiatives. The companies said the partnership will support emerging artists globally while creating new opportunities tied to music discovery, fandom, and digital experiences.
A major component of the agreement focuses on artificial intelligence protections. UMG and TikTok said they will continue working together to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from TikTok while improving attribution systems for artists and songwriters. The companies emphasized that the partnership is intended to protect human artistry while ensuring platform economics appropriately benefit creators.
Universal Music Group Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash said the agreement reflects the companies’ efforts to expand innovative fan experiences while improving social media monetization and safeguarding artists’ work.
TikTok Global Head of Music Business Development Tracy Gardner said the partnership will help artists and songwriters engage audiences, grow communities, and achieve greater global career success through the platform.
Universal Music Group said it remains focused on expanding commercial and artistic opportunities for creators across recorded music, publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content businesses.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re proud of the pioneering work we’ve done with TikTok to create wide-ranging benefits for our artists and songwriters. With this new agreement, we look forward to driving innovative new fan experiences, while further improving social media monetization, and protecting and amplifying human artistry.”
Michael Nash, Executive Vice-President & Chief Digital Officer, Universal Music Group
“We’re excited to take our partnership with UMG to the next level, and build on the strong foundation we’ve already created together for artists, songwriters and fans. TikTok is a unique platform where music discovery, culture and fandom intersect, and this agreement will help create even more opportunities for artists and songwriters to engage audiences, grow their communities and achieve career success on a global scale.”
Tracy Gardner, Global Head of Music Business Development, TikTok
